The New York Giants are allegedly planning an intriguing

One of the top names rumored to be available on the NFL free agency market next month is running back Saquon Barkley of the New York Giants.

After being franchise-tagged a season ago, Barkley, a two-time Pro Bowler, is expected to go undrafted.

Now, the issue is if New York will apply the tag once more on Barkley to keep him off the free market.

Paul Schwartz of the New York Post claims that’s quite unlikely.

According to a source on Saquon Barkley’s franchise tag status, “there is no real sentiment whatsoever that they are interested in doing that this time around,” in contrast to last year when the Giants tagged Barkley after failing to reach a long-term deal.

A season ago, Barkley had a $10.1 million price tag. For the Giants, carrying out the same action a second year in a row would come at a cost of almost $12 million. In the current state of the NFL, that is an absurd amount of money to pay a running back.

Related: 2024 NFL Draft prospects with Saquon Barkley

Barkley, who was selected by the Giants with the second overall selection in 2018, just finished a 2023 season in which he amassed 1,242 total yards and 10 touchdowns at a rate of 4.2 yards per touch.

His injury troubles returned, causing him to miss three games. Ever since emerging as the 2018 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, the former Penn State standout has struggled with it. All all, over the previous five seasons, Barkley has missed 25 games.

Barkley is expected to have a robust market in free agency despite this. The Los Angeles Chargers and their new head coach, Jim Harbaugh, are already being connected to him.

Barkley’s departure from the Giants for a seventh season appears to be inevitable at this point.